Foot-rail for folding beds



R. COOPEIISMITH. FOOT RAIL FOR FOLDING BEDS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. I9I9.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Wye/mar fiuaa/p/r, Coopers/771W? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH COOPERSMITH, 0F MONTREAL, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE 3'. H. SHER- RARD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED, 015

ADA.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CAN- FOOT-RAIL FOR FOLDING BEDS.

Application filed December 19, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH CoorER- SMITH, a .citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Rails for Folding-Beds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in foot rails for folding couches and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable foot rail which will also serve to retain the foot of the mattress in place during folded position of the couch.

The device consists briefly of a foot rail carried by a pair of arms pivoted one to each side of the frame of a folding couch and controlled by springs which operate to hold the rail firmly in either folded-down or upstanding position.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, side elevation of a couch, showing the device in position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a side rail and 12 the foot rail forming part of a folding couch or the like, and 13 designates a mattress.

A pair of arms 14 are pivotally mounted at 15 one on each side of the rail 11. These arms each comprise a substantially straight portion 16 slightly bent edgewise near its upper end as at 17 to form a rail receiving portion 18, and bent edgewise at its pivotal point throu h approximately 90 to form a tail 19. The bent extremities 18 of the arms are connected by a foot rail 20 of wood or other suitable material which is secured in place by screws or the like 21 passing through the arm portions 18. The extremity of each tail 19 is slightly ofi'set away from the adjacent side rail 11 and is pivotally connected to one end of a short link 22. The opposite end of each link is secured to one end of a helical spring 23 anchored adjacent the corner of the frame by means of a stud 24. A second stud 25 is secured to each side rail 11 and forms a stop for the arm 14.

The operation of the device is extremely simple. When in the erected position, shown in full lines, Fig. 1, the foot rail 20 lies at the end of the mattress and serves Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Serial No. 346,031.

to keep the mattress from sliding off the frame. The link 22 serves merely as a connection between the springs 23 and the tail 19 to prevent the spring dragging over the tail when the foot rail is shifted. It will be noted that the spring load is applied to the arms above their pivotal point 15 and serves to hold the same firmly in their upstanding position. When the couch is to be folded up the foot rail is moved in the direction of the arrow so that the arms are rocked about their pivotal points and the tails transport the points of attachment of the spring across the pivotal points of the arms, with the result that the springs operate to hold the foot rail tightly down on the mattress, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, and thus retain the mattress in position during folding and unfolding of the couch. The offset in the tails 19 serves to carry the links 22 and springs 23 outside and clear of the pivots 15.

Having thus described my what I claim is l. A foot rail for folding couches comprising, in combination with the side rails of a couch, a pair of arms pivoted to said side rails, each arm comprising a straight central portion and a pair of end portions, one bent at a slight angle to the central portion and the other bent at a considerable angle to the central portion, said slightly bent end portion carrying the foot rail and the extremity of said considerably bent portion being connected to the link and being offset away from the side rail to carry the link and spring clear of the attaching means of the arm.

2. A foot rail for folding beds and the like comprising the combination with bed side rails, of a pair of bell crank levers pivoted at their apices to said side rails, said levers having arms of unequal length, the shorter arms being offset away from said rails and the longer arms being bent edgewise near their extremities, a foot rail connected between the bent extremities of said longer arms, links pivotally connected to the extremities of the shorter arms and springs in tension between said links and the extremities of the side rails.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH COOPERSMITH.

invention, 

